Chapter 13 - Before the Wedding
Daniel remembered meeting Vanessa at a bereavement support event six weeks after Elise's funeral. Vanessa had arrived with paper cups of coffee and listened while he described the ache of coming home to a newborn and an empty bedroom.
He had believed her kindness was accidental.
Now Simone showed him records proving Harbor Child Wellness had been registered two months before their wedding. Vanessa's first attempt to request trust funds had come just nine days after they met.
"She asked me about the trust on our second date," Daniel said quietly. "I thought she was worried about Noah's future."
Ruth said nothing. She had warned him, but winning that argument wouldn't help anybody.
At home, Daniel opened the memory box Elise had prepared during her pregnancy. Inside were a tiny knitted cap, a hospital bracelet, and letters marked for Noah's first birthday, first day of school, and eighteenth birthday.
He had avoided the box because opening it felt like admitting Elise would never come home. Now it was proof of how much she had planned for the life she wouldn't see.
He found an envelope labeled FOR DANIEL, ON A DAY THAT FEELS IMPOSSIBLE.
He didn't open it. Not yet.
Instead, he called the hospital social worker who had helped after Elise died and requested the grief-support event's attendance information, if available through proper channels. She could not disclose other guests' private details. She could, however, confirm that Vanessa had not been a volunteer, despite telling Daniel she'd helped run the group.
"She may have attended as a guest," the social worker said. "I can't say why."
Daniel thanked her. After hanging up, he understood that Vanessa's story had been designed to make questions feel ungrateful.
A knock came at the front door. On the step stood a courier with an envelope from Vanessa's attorney.
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Inside was a settlement offer.
If Daniel gave up the investigation and paid Vanessa half a million dollars, she would withdraw every allegation against him.
